Chapter 42:

When Embre's Dad asked to speak to me, I've never felt my hands fill up with sweat like I just had gotten done boxing, but it did.

I even called him Sir.

"Sit please." Well that's a good start.. I think.

Taking a seat right across from Embre's Dad and I tried to remain eye contact with him but it's becoming harder by the second as he sized me up.

"So you love my daughter?" He questioned, rubbing his hands together and I could almost hear the faint sounds of his knuckles cracking and I sit up straighter.

"Yes I do." Hitting the nail right on the head.

"Where did you meet my daughter?" He asked and I remember that very day when I spotted her, she seemed so out of place and when her eyes connected with mine I was instantly drawn to her. So when she literally ran out, I knew I had to see her again. And I found out that way was for me to hire people and there she was.

But it was in a club.. my Club.

"Well to be honest, a club." I knew that caught his attention. "But I didn't seek her out in the way you think, yes I meet her in my Club-"

"That makes it better." His voice was laced with sacarsm.

"No, she expressed to me that she needed a job.. before she ran out on me of course."

"She ran?"

"Yes sir."

"That's my girl." He gloated. "Continue."

"Well, I found myself caring.. which was a first. And I knew the only way I could find her again was to say that I was hiring people and I needed a new assistant anyway."

"So you fired your last one." He said it more as a statement.

"No."

Yes.

He gave me a pointed look and I sighed in defeat. "Yes I did, but if it helps I have her the job as an assistant." We both shared a laugh at my selfishness.

"You my friend are ruthless." He commented.

The air seemed to loosen up around us and I was satisfied to know the aroma was calming. "When I met your daughter is when she walked into my office and I saw her again." I sat back. "When I saw her at the Club she looked sort of..out of place. Like she didn't mingle well with others and when I introduced myself, it was almost like a act to seem like she belonged, but when I saw her again I met the real her."

I seemed to have snapped out of my daze as I came back to reality of who I was speaking to. "That's real sweet son.. but she's pregnant." And just like that the air filled with tension.

"I was going to ask you a very important question sir." And this time he raises both of his eyebrows, leaning forward. Before I could even release a word..

"You want to marry her." He already knew my question."Love is a strange thing isn't it?" He asked before sitting back and crossing his foot over the other.

"Well I've only fell for one person."

"Oh boy, I wish I could say the same." He sighed, shaking his head as if trying to get rid of a memory gone bad. "Looks like I made the right choice." His eyes shifted to the door we had came from and I could tell he was referring to his wife.

"Yes sir."

"Oh stop with that, I know I'm old." He grumbled.

"My apologies."

"You talk so formal." If only you knew.

"Well I try, I kind of have to be." I added in, fixing my cuff.

"Back to the topic." He rests his hand against the armrest. "You are asking for my blessing?"

"Yes."

"You're not doing this just because she's pregnant right?"

"I was going to do it regardless of the fact that she is pregnant with our baby." I had already been planning.

"Well then yes, you have my blessing, but just know if you hurt my daughter-and I hear about it, I will be back." He rose to his feet before lifting his hand.

I shook his firm hand. "Wasn't excepting anything less sir, and I wouldn't hurt her intentionally."

"Son just from my observation you seem to be holding onto something and I don't know what that something is but from man to man, everyone has a past.. it's what you chose to do with it, you either sink or sail, and I would choose to sail than sink."

That reminded me of Embre, she was very observant before reacting and I was the complete opposite. But I had already made my decision to sail.

We leave the room and he walks off in the opposite direction from where I was headed, probably to find his wife, and I do the same.

••••

*A week later*

I woke up before her-like usual- and I knew she would be in bed more often and it didn't bother me.

Today was the day that I would officially ask her to marry me, being nervous was an understatement to how I felt.

It didn't take me long to get ready before I called up to my building complex. "This is Miss Vickerson, how may I help you today?"

"Landon Hale, I'm calling to inform that Miss Daniels will not be there today and I'll need Miss Jones to fill in for her, I'll be there shortly then I'll be taking off for the day."

"Yes sir." And I hung up. Going to the drawer that I had stashed the envelopes in, I made quick work to leave the first one on the my side of the bed before I left to go drop off the others, hopefully this goes like I planned.

I left the ring box here because we're going to end right back here but first she was going on a little adventure.

••

Waking up, the first thing I did was rub my eyes, feeling the light thin mucus forming around my eyelids. "Landon?" I called out seeing he was nowhere to be found. "Hello?"

Where did he go?

I get up, leaving the room I call out for him but he doesn't answer. He's probably at work but why would he leave me here? I quickly reach out for my my phone, calling him but I'm sent to voicemail.

What the hell?

I blow out of puff of air before rubbing my stomach, I had a little bulge now but it wasn't noticeable just yet and Landon did tell me he wanted to keep it away from the public eye until we couldn't anymore, and I respected that because I didn't want that attention either.

At the foot of the bed, I saw a dress but it mostly looked like a t shirt with my heels and a necklace to go with it.. he must have done this for me but the question still lingers in my head as to why he left me. It must have been urgent.

Moving my hand, I almost cursed out loud feeling something scarp my hand and I looked to see an envelope with my name written across it.

Picking it up and take the tape off and pulling out the piece of paper out.

Hey beautiful,

Don't be mad at me just yet, I know you're probably wondering where the hell am I? Well I'm not that far away. Do me a favor and get dressed and meet me where we very first met, there'll be a envelope waiting for you there just like this one.

~Landon.

It didn't take me long to get ready and I put my hair into a neat bun before putting on the outfit he laid out for me.

Makeup or no makeup?

Something told me to put some on and I followed my first conscious, grabbing my phone and bag I headed downstairs to the set of car keys on the hook and I grabbed the ones that belonged to the Black Jeep waiting for me outside.

Once settled I called Regina and she answered on the final ring. "Where did you take us when we went out to that night?" I ask, hurriedly.

It wasn't difficult for her to tell me because that was the last time we had a girls night out and putting the address into the gps that read I would be there in 30 minutes, I set off.

Stepping out of the car, I walked to entrance of his club before looking around seeing he wasn't there.

"How may I help you?" I heard a very quirky voice and I turned around to see a red head girl poking her head out. "We're not opened right now."

"Landon Hale here?"

"Oh you just missed him, but he asked me to give you this." She opened the door and her y'all frame came into view and in her apron she hands me a envelope that looked like the first.

"Thank you."

Sweetheart,

You just missed me but don't worry I'm not that far. Know I want you to get back in the Jeep because I know you've been eyeing it for some time and if your not in it, I'll be surprised. Next stop, your favorite breakfast place, well except the waitress. Hopefully you can catch me there.

I quickly close the envelope and I go back to the Jeep.

Next stop De Rosa Cafe.

It annoyed me a little bit but the other side to me actually enjoyed this little scavenger hunt.

"How may I help you?"

"Hi, is Landon Hale here?" I ask and she looks down her column.

"No he left about ten minutes ago but he asked if you would eat, do you wish too?" She asks and I smile at her politeness.

"I might as well." I politely addressed her.

"Right this way." She guides me upstairs but I look around to see at least three more empty seats, I don't say anything as she leads me upstairs and I shake my head knowingly.

"Right here." She says, fanning her hand out pointing to the table and I see red roses and I smile, sitting down.

"Ill be back with your order."

"But I didn't order-" I start but she's already gone.

A few minutes later she came back with three stacks of pancakes with bacon the side and orange juice.

"Thank you." She nods her head at me before leaving.

After I'm done she comes back up to me she picks up the plate and the glass before she slips her hand into her apron, I'm thinking she's pulling it the checkbook but instead it's another envelope.She hands it to me, smiling and I thank her before leaving opening the envelope in the process. What is he doing? I open it hurriedly, hopefully I don't get a paper cut from all this paper.

Well I'm glad you ate and hopefully everything it's not just you anymore, say hi for me to my baby girl. Now do you know the first place I kissed you? Well that's your next stop. I can tell your a little frustrated but that's my job. Let's see if you can catch me.

Challenge accepted. I quickly go back to the car and the office is not that far from here. Pulling up to the building, I made quick work to lock the doors before heading inside.

Walking passed, I see the new reception lady and with a faint smile she addressed me. "Miss Daniels? Mr Hale said you wouldn't be in today."

"Oh, I'm just coming in to grab a few things." I lied before dismissing myself.

Barging into his office I was ready to give him a piece of mind but.. he was nowhere to be found. Walking up to his desk, I see a white lily covering the envelope and I picked it up before opening it.

Hey it's me again.

You accepted my challenge but you were not quick enough. Now for your next stop.

I stop reading, rubbing my forehead knowing I have to get up again, but I continue reading wanting to know where he is.

Your old apartment, I know your curious to why I'm telling you to go there but when you get the next note, you'll understand why. I'll see you soon.

My old apartment?

Tucking the flower behind my ear, I said hello to Adaline and Seth before leaving again to my next destination.

I walk into the apartment warily, looking around and I don't see any sign of danger so I don't have to run already then what I intended to do. "Regina?" But She was nowhere to be found.

I walk down the hall to my room, opening it and stepping in. Same as I left it, I didn't have much on my walls just pictures, Well I know how Regina felt, kind of depressing to look at with your own eyes. I've changed a lot.

Beautiful,

It's been awhile since I've seen your face and I don't think I can last another second without seeing you, I brought you back to your apartment because I wanted to tell you that, I'm glad Regina burnt it down in a way and I tell you more about that later when I see you, don't be mad but you have one more stop, don't worry you don't have to get out of the car, just go pass it, don't flip this over until you go the the address below.

I look further down the paper, seeing a address I start to leave the apartment, locking it.

Getting back into the Jeep I put in the address and it pops up: The Airport. I look at the time to see its getting later by the minute and I drive to the next destination, pulling up once it says I've reached my destination and I'm parked in front of a closed gate.

I grab the letter, flipping it like he said and I continue to read.

Roll down your window.

I do as instructed continuing to read in the process.

I want you to look outside and what do you see?

I look out the window and my eyes widen at the sight.

He bought me a plane? My eyes roamed over it before looking to see he had my initials craved into it.

I tried not to cry but it was becoming a little bit hard, I didn't know if it was because of my hormones or what but the water works wouldn't stop. I looked back at the letter.

You see it, don't you? Baby, I'll follow you anywhere you go as long as I'm by your side. Don't start crying at least not yet because I still have to see how beautiful you look- still would be. Now hurry back to me, I'll be waiting for you.

The letter ends and I flip it rapidly and I'm left confused, there's no address on where to go, where could he-... Home.

I quickly back out and not caring if I go over the speed limit, I need to get back to him to let him know I appreciated him.

A few undying minutes later, I pull up to the house. Gathering all of the envelopes putting each in my purse, I stepped out of the car before rushing inside.

Please let him be here.